Italy Houzz Tour: A City Flat Gains a Second Bedroom and Kitchen
These owners wanted a second bedroom and a streamlined kitchen. They got both and more thanks to clever designer tricks.
In the old town of Trento, Italy, on the second floor of a building dating back to the 18th century, is a one-bedroom apartment used primarily as a holiday home. The owners asked the architects at Studio Raro to create a second bedroom, so that the apartment would sleep four and be more attractive to potential short-term tenants.
The architects took advantage of the dimensions of the living area to propose a clever and practical solution: the extra bedroom is a glass cube inside the living room. Here, we take a look at their solutions for carving out more space and hiding the kitchen in this multifunctional environment.
The architects took advantage of the dimensions of the living area to propose a clever and practical solution: the extra bedroom is a glass cube inside the living room. Here, we take a look at their solutions for carving out more space and hiding the kitchen in this multifunctional environment.
“We decided to set up the extra bedroom in the living room, because it was the largest space. There is, in fact, another bedroom in the house,” says architect Roberta Di Filippo. “There are two windows facing the city centre on the sofa side of the room (see above), so we put the new room next to the kitchen. Although the 3.4-metre ceiling height is generous, it wasn’t enough for a mezzanine. That’s how the idea for this space, a glass cube in the middle of the living room, was born.”
On the right in the background of the first photo are the entryway, which also leads to the second bedroom (left), and then the bathroom door (the next door towards the foreground in the first photo). The cameras on the wall belong to the owner, who decided to frame and hang them.
On the right in the background of the first photo are the entryway, which also leads to the second bedroom (left), and then the bathroom door (the next door towards the foreground in the first photo). The cameras on the wall belong to the owner, who decided to frame and hang them.
“The cube is made of an aluminium structure and glass panes, in order to bring in light from the windows opposite. It’s at a higher level than the rest of the living room. The steps help visually separate the rooms,” Di Filippo says.
Recessed spotlights illuminate the room inside.
A set of curtains – two sheer curtains and a third blackout curtain – provide darkness and privacy. The wall at the back of the room is painted a golden-yellow: “we wanted to highlight the cube and give it presence,” she says.
Recessed spotlights illuminate the room inside.
A set of curtains – two sheer curtains and a third blackout curtain – provide darkness and privacy. The wall at the back of the room is painted a golden-yellow: “we wanted to highlight the cube and give it presence,” she says.
The steps are divided into three modules. The ones on the sides can be opened on hinges, with a stopper to hold them up. Inside are one-metre-tall storage spaces. The short, 20-centimetre-wide wall between the steps and the yellow unit visually frames the room and centres the entire space.
The kitchen features cabinets with grey laminate fronts on the back wall to the right of the cube. This wall includes a refrigerator and a pantry in the column on the right, ovens and cupboards in the centre and more storage on the left. “The grey of the kitchen and the walls works with the black framing to highlight the glass cube,” Di Filippo says.
In front of the bed and outside the room stands the dining table, characterised by a unique light fixture that draws all attention to itself and makes a statement in the space.
The recessed spotlights in the kitchen area not only illuminate the three-metre-long countertop but also highlight the geometry of the room.
The kitchen features cabinets with grey laminate fronts on the back wall to the right of the cube. This wall includes a refrigerator and a pantry in the column on the right, ovens and cupboards in the centre and more storage on the left. “The grey of the kitchen and the walls works with the black framing to highlight the glass cube,” Di Filippo says.
In front of the bed and outside the room stands the dining table, characterised by a unique light fixture that draws all attention to itself and makes a statement in the space.
The recessed spotlights in the kitchen area not only illuminate the three-metre-long countertop but also highlight the geometry of the room.
The yellow unit is also part of the kitchen. It has cupboards below and a hob and sink above (see next photo). It is finished in a mustard-yellow laminate. “We chose this hinged solution to hide the kitchen in this unique multifunctional room,” Di Filippo says.
The sink has built-in taps, and the induction stove comes with an exhaust.
For budget reasons, they went for wood-look PVC flooring.
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For budget reasons, they went for wood-look PVC flooring.
Tell us
What do you love about this home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, save the story, and join in the conversation.
More
Find a renovation professional in Singapore
Browse more Singapore photos for design inspiration
House at a Glance
Location: Old town Trento, Italy
Size: 34 square metres (about 365 square feet)
Size of the cube bedroom: 10 square metres
Renovation year: 2018
Budget: €90,000 for the whole project, including the renovation of the original bedroom
Architects: Roberta Di Filippo and Roberto Salvischiani from Studio Raro
Furniture, finishes, and assembly: Project Line Carpentry
Lightning: Lichtstudio Eisenkeil